Pasha Online

Saturday, 26 January 2013

A young Kenyan female poet, famous for her “Changing
Winds” with love for arts, dance, painting, writing and stage performance with
a BA in communications from Daystar University, on Saturday 9th
February will launch her book “The Changing Winds” book.

The
Changing Winds is a three part poetry book on Kenya which
describes the events that took place in Kenya before and after 2008 the
post-election violence through wind variations:

The Tempest, The Gale and The Breeze.
The Tempest looks at the tempestuous situations, frustrations and argues;

“Our
nation is under siege

Its
people turning monstrous!

Abuse
runs rife and lies the order of the day.

Leaders
cry foul over issues of non-relevance

While
homes are scorched, women and children are raped and killers run the show with
impunity.

A
modern Sodom and Gomorrah!”

~
Our nation is under siege

The
Gale speaks of the under currents of emotions that still ply
minds and hearts having experienced the tempest while The Breeze looks at
dreams, aspirations and challenges to grasp for a bright future.

The
Changing Winds comes at a time when the country is about to
go into elections and Poet Trudy does her artistic duty of being a mirror to
society, urging them to be the change they want to see by using the past to
shape the future.

Carole Mandi, a publisher, says Trudy’s ability to articulate
in powerful poetics the injustices of the time in such words as, “We are living Zombies? Ducking and weaving
through life? Trying to survive? Not knowing what lies around every owner”
evokes emotion and paints vivid pictures for the reader.

Mandi goes ahead to say, yet hope is artfully woven in to
each poem,“That one day neighbor would
be brother would be father? AND neighbor be mother, would be sister/ and would
be whole? A nation that’s family.”

She lifts the reader from the harsh present reality o the
possibilities that lie ahead.

The Author

Trudy Walmsley was born in Mombasa, Kenya and grew up in
Lusaka, Zambia in a culturally mixed household and moved back to Nairobi during
Kenya's move into multiparty state which fueled her patriotic spirit.

A
multi-faceted artist, Trudy fell in love with dancing, painting, writing and
stage performance in her formative years and this have been key in shaping her
worldview.

Trudy started writing when in secondary school where she
kept a journal which served as material for her poems. She started writing
poems on Kenya after a period of prayer and fasting in June 2007 and continues
to do so to date and her decision to publish was principally due to the fact
most of the poems seem to come from the heart of God and his love for his
people.

She holds a BA in communication from Daystar University
and looks up to Maya Angelou, the Psalms and Papa Nelson Mandela for her poetic
inspiration. The Changing Winds is her first.

The Launch will see pieces from the book recited and
performed in song and dance by the author, renowned poet Caroline Nderitu and
Poetry Group, Mstari wa Nne’s Michael Kwambo. Others acts include Mishumo
Madima; an upcoming Jazz and Soul Singer, Laughton Murage; a Nairobi based
artist performer, dancer, singer and luxury life curator, Internationally
Acclaimed Creative Dancer, Performer, Choreographer, Yassin Mutati and O.C.B;
Our Church Band who are talented and dynamic performers.

The book launch will be MC’ed by Poet Sitawa Wafula and
the special guest will be Felicia Tendo Foinmbam, Director at Eden School.

The launch
will take place at Soiree Garden Restaurant, on the Junction of
Kindaruma Rd and Marcus Garvey .

Monday, 21 January 2013

The last time I saw Dan,
my fellow friend of mine Obed Simiyu would call him “Nigga” was just over two
weeks ago, the new 2013 year had begun.

I met him at the West
Fm ICT center Beadon house Bungoma before we dropped him at his place towards
Kanduyi.

The following day, I
remember, He spent most of his day at Obed’s house at his request to work on
video project. He had a good computer to do the work.

He was a student at JKUAT-
The film services department. He was a journalist and the sky was the limit for
him.

Dan was at the centre
of things, with great skill, sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge with everyone
there, experts and novices alike.

Dan conducted his
professional life at the University in much the same way. He had an insatiable
curiosity about everything he came into contact with. He needed to know in
intimate detail how things worked, how he could make them work better and then
how he could use what he had learned to better advantage. He was conscientious,
meticulous, inventive and utterly reliable.

I first knew him when
he undertook his intern ship at the West Media Ltd. Little did I know he was
ailing.

Life is like a bible
you should follow each chapter one by one - Dan Saenyi

The only way I came to know about his illness Sickle Cell
Anaemia (a blood disorder that affects hemoglobin, the
protein found in red blood cells (RBCs) that help carry oxygen throughout the
body. Sickle cell anemia occurs when a person inherits two abnormal genes (one
from each parent) that cause their RBCs to change shape.

Instead of being flexible and disc-shaped,
these cells are more stiff and curved in the shape of the old farm tool known
as a sickle — that's where the disease gets its name. The shape is similar to a
crescent moon.)

The rest it was Obed who informed me about
it. The two were not only workmates too, they were more than that.

It is the same Obed who informed me about his
demise on phone.

“Have you heard the big news from Bungoma?
Obed had inquired.

“No, nothing at all,” I had replied because
that day I had spent part of my day indoors.

“Saenyi is gone,” he
broke the news.

I could not believe
it. How could it have happened? He was healthy the last time we were with him I
tried to tell Obed. However, he said that was it. “Let’s absorb the news first
to be able to recollect,” I remember telling him.

Then, I rushed to Dan’s
Face Book page just to know if it were true.

Yes, he had gone too
soon. A son to his loving parents. A brother to his siblings. A friend to many
and a school mate to many whom I do not know.

Cousin
I still can’t believe bt it will be well with all of us. it will be well may u
rest in peace. luv uHow i
wish life would be just like Ted the muvy u wish n ur wishes come true coz I
would wish for u Daniel Saenyi. dear I will miss u real bad...... duuude

Obed Muindi

If we had a chance to appeal, I would
have been the first to appeal so that you could stay around longer. To say you
were a colleague, friend or brother is an understatement, you were more than
that. I pray to God to rest your soul in peace till we meet again nigga.

Nick Wekesa Reloaded

lost a friend, schoolmate and just a
great friend. so sad RIP Dan may God rest your soul in eternal peace!!

Joseph Manyasa

Dan is it true? I remember we walked
together heading to Kimaeti Boys during the Kimaeti Division Educational Day to
hunt for news. Even the other day when I hollad you when I was in Nairobi you
came and took me to railways club where we ate Kuku choma.....but then, Is it
true? Cant believe bro.....am still in tears......

Shaniz Wanjiku Shish

cant bliv this am in tears,,wish i can
kal talk to u ,i remember walking u to buk a bus back to nairobi,,i miss u and
i will miss u forever,,u were the best frend i always count ,a humble descky in
high scul cant bliv if its true u told m utakuja hom next week ooh my,,MAY THE
ALMIGHTY PUT HIS SOUL IN PEACE luv u

Bryan Wesonga

we grew up together, we shared many
things, Dan may ur soul rest in peace till we meet again

Some of his memorable things he wrote:

A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve,
not by the desire to beat others. - Am creative, bt i always feel way better
wen i beat others.

Wish life was like a video, we don't av 2 grow old, the
pretty girls jst happen 2 drop by, n u live it over n over again, jst hit
rewind...

Sometimes i just wana give up,but its pple who belive
in me that make. me push maself one step harder